Pipe-cutting machine



Dec. 18 1923; www5 A. T. SAMPSON PIPE CUTTING MACHINE Original Filed May8. 1919 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 M @f @y BA'SfbS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 A T SMPSONPIPE CUTTING MACHINE Original Filed May 8, 19

Dec.. 1s, 1923.

Patented Dec. 18, 1923.

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ARCHIBALD T. SA-MPSGN, OF LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO SAIVIPSONAXCESSl SYSTEM, INC., 0F LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION CFMASSACHUSETTS.

PIPE-CUTTING MACHINE.

Application filed May 8, 1919, Serial T 0 aZZ whom 'it may concern.:

Be it known that I, ARCHIBALD T. SAMP- soN, a citizen of the UnitedStates, and a resident of Lynn, Massachusetts (whose post-office addressis No. 494 Union St., Lynn, Massachusetts), have invented an Improvementin Pipe-Cutting Machines, of which the following description, inconnection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, likeletters on the drawings representing` like parts.

My present invention relates toV cutting apparatus, and moreparticularly to cutting apparatus for cutting slots or openings in ametal conduit or pipe.

In my inventions upon an improved novel system of electricalconstruction and installation, partly explained in my prior copendingapplication, Serial No. 166,613,1iled May 7, 1917, one of the importantfeatures consists in a method of cutting partially through a metalconduit without injury to the elect-ric wires therein, and even when theconduit is already in place in a building. In my co-pending application,Serial No. 345,284, filed December 16, 1919, I have described andclaimed improved cutting apparatus for carrying out a step in the methoddescribed and claimed in my application, Serial No. 166,813, abovereferred to.

The. cutting` apparatus herein described and claimed is intendedparticularly for use in carrying out a further step in my improvementsof forming the slot in a conduit orv pipe for an outlet or tap, bypartially cutting through the conduit or pipe. The cutting apparatusherein described and claimed is preferably used after the cuttingapparatus described and claimed in my copending application, Serial No.345,284 filed Dec. 16, 1919, has completed its operation, because acleaner cut is made in this way, but the present invention and apparatusmay be used to perform their functions at anytime, regardless of Whetheror not the cutting apparatus described in the application above referredto has performed its function. VWhile the present apparatus has beendesigned particularly for use on conduits or pipes valready installed ina building or other structure, its use is not so limited, as it isequally capable. of use in cutting slots in conduits orpipes before thesame are installed.

A feature of my present invention is the improved means for mounting thecutters,

whereby` the same are mounted parallel to each other at either side ofthe carrying means, and move together'as a unitary structure.

A still further feature, and one relating to the last named feature, isthe provision of improved means for mounting the entire cutting andfeeding means on the body of the apparatus, together with meansassociated with said cutting and feeding means for co-acting with thebody of the apparatus to hold the. entire structure in operativeposition on the work.

Further important features, novel constructions, and arrangements ofparts and advantages, will be hereinafter more fully pointed out andclaimed.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating a preferred embodiment of myinvention:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the cutting apparatus, in position on aconduit or pipe;

Fig. 2 is a view of the upper portion of the cutting apparatus, with thecover plate removed to show the internal mechanism;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line 3--3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a detail showing the position occupied by the tool when inaction;

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the cutting apparatus, and

Fig. 6 is a` sectional side elevation of the cutting apparatus on theline 6 6 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, and more particularly to Figs. 1, 5, and 6,10 designates a body member, having` the intermediate portion 11 thereofextending upwardly and provided at either side lwith clamping andbearing plates 12, these plateslZ being provided with grooves 13 whichextend along Vtheir length, as designated in Figs. 5 and 6. The lowerportion of the body member 10 has formed integral therewith a laterallyextending portion 14, on either side of which, as viewed in Fig. 1, isan upwardly extending side plate 15, these plates 15 being rigidlyattachedtjoftby thebo'lt and nut' 16v and 17'.'

Pivotally attached tonpper port-ions of the; .siflelplatesz .1.5 are.the ends. of the, arms 18 ot-thibellcranls levers19, the levers beingtied together so as to move in unison by the rod 20 fastened to theends'fof the arms 21 by the Iscrews 22.

At the junction` of thearms 18 and 21 of the ball. Crank, lever 19 .isrirotally` mounted. the-ldwer eiidfof a." body member 23' havingan"`fi'1it'ermediate portion 24E extending up'- wardly" "and` providedateither side with clamping and'bearing plates 25, these plates 25 beingprovidedwith projections 8fwhich extendfalong their y lenvth, asdesignated in Figs'.`"5' and 6, and' cola'ct with the; grooves 13 in theplatesn12. Pins 26, on the arms 21, engage with the plates 15 to limitthedownwardm'oveinent of' saidl arms 21. Thev construotio'jiist,described constitutes 'a toggle` joint fdr` ysecurelylocking themembers 25 and-112'togetherf. z

The, projectionsmS whenbrought into en,- gagement withi the grooves 13,and the arms 21 moyedfto their lowermostyposition, lock the'v bodylmembersl 10 and A23. and associated parts, `to'gether, clearlyvshown inFigs. 5l

vandv 6;"V When inthe position shown in4 Figs. "5 and6, the` b"o,dymembers are spaced apart andiparalflel toi` each other, as arertheinter# mediate portions 11' and 24, thesevintermediateportions however,being spaced further apart than" the body members, fora purpose 'tohereinafter described.

The lateral portion or projection 14 is inT ternally,screw-threadedat27, to 'receive the externally; threaded hollow shaft 2,8, thelpath"'of'travel of the shaft 28 being parallelA lto andequidistant fromthe body members 10 and 2,3. AA handle 429,rigidly attachedY to thelower' end of thel hollow shaft 28'enahles theoperatortofmove the hollowshaft up- Wardf 01?..d1eivnwardl.

Thebodymemberis provided with a guide way inv which slides a'projectionjon a iiangeI1 31, of anN internally threaded v4sleeve 32.''This sleeve 32 is a free'iit in' the exten.

,nallyl threaded -hollowshaft 28 and entends downwardly to a pointbeyond the lower end of saidL hollow `shaft, to provide room for acol1ar .33,`whichissheld on the sleeve 32 by thefpin A34`Ian`d limitsthe endwise movement ofthe shaft` 28. The upper ypart 35 only of i' thesleeve 32 isV threaded to. receive lthe on, I

threadedportion of the feed rod 36. The lowery portion 137. of theinterior of the sleeve 32 forms a bearing for the feed rod 36l theintermediate portionA of the interior "of the sleeve32 being cut away,as shown in v Fig. 6,A to provide a clearancespace for-'the threaded.portion of the feed rodV when the same is lowered inthe sleeve 32..

The upper portionV 3,7 of the feed rod 36 is reduced in diameter, asshown in Fig. 6, to receive a crossfbar 38 of. a combined clamp and toolsupport'. filhis crossLbar 38 extends laterally of the intermediateportions 11 and 24C, as viewed in Fig. 1, and it is for the par-V poseof. allowing room for the. combined clamp and tool support that thespace betweenV the intermediate portions 11 and is greater than thespace between the body n'iembers 10 and The feed rod 36 is pro-. .a

vided with a handle by means of which it may be turned. e On the reducedportion 37 of the feed rod 36 and above the crossbar 38 is rigidlyinonnted a gear 39 of any convenientdiameter and pitch'. The upperV faceof the cross-bar 38` is provided. with holes a() and lil, of suitable.,diameter and-.f

depth, parallel to andequidjistant from the holey for the feed. Vrod 36,to receive the lower ends ofv the auxiliary feed rods 42 and, 43.

stood that l' may `malte the thread of thev feed rod l36 left handed andthe threads ,on the'auxiliary feed rods42and 13 right handed, withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention,- the onlyrequisite beingthat the gear 39 thereon, meshing withthe gears all anda-5, will turnlthe threaded auxiliary rods 42 and 43 in such a ldirection as to movethe cross-bar38 toward or from theV clamping member 4 6, which isVprovided with longitni dinally Vthreaded holes fl?, 48, and 49, tore-Aceive the feed rods 36., 42 and t3 respectively. Cover Aplates 71 forthe gears 39, ist andV and rods 3.7, 42 `and i3 are provided,- beingheld in position on the cross-bar 38 by screws.

'72. Theupper end of the clamping member 46 is provided kwith V-shapedgrooves'() and 51, the extreme outer ends of VVwhich are provided with,outwardly and upwardly extending projections 52,V (as viewed in Fig. 6)which are adapted to co-operate with the clamping arms 12 and 25. On the`feed rod 36 beneath the crossfbar 38, is provided a nut 53 threadedonto Vthe rod 36 vand between the upper end of this nut and the lowerface of the cross-bar is a coil spring 54 and the collar 55. which ispreferably formed integral with the nut .53. The tension of the springfhis adjusted 'by moving the nut 53 on theA feed rod 36, and thenut iskheld in adjusted position by the screw 56, This construction allows thecutting mechanism on the` crossbar 38v to. be yieldingly held againstthe pipe being worked on, as there is ampie space or clearance betweenthe'lower face of the cross-bar 38 and the top of the collar 55 when thespring is fully compressed, as is evident from an inspection of Fig. 6.

Centrally located on either end of the cross-bar 38 are laterallyprojecting studs 57 and 58, on which are pivotally mounted the cutterholders 59 and 60 respectively. The cutter holders are composed ofplates 6l and 62, each being provided on their inner face with centrallylocated longitudinal grooves 63 in which is placed the cutter 64. Nearthe upper end of the plates 6l and 62 of the cutter holders are alignedperforations on either side of their longitudinal center, to receivethereduced threaded ends of the rods and 66. Nuts 67 clampV the plates 6land 62 firmly to the rods 65 and 66, this operation also clamping thecutter 64 in position in the grooves 63 in the plates. The portions ofthe clamping member 46 containing the V-shaped grooves 50 and 5l areperforated, as at 68, to allow the cutters 64 to be fed therethroughinto engagement with the conduit or pipe to be worked on.

The distance between the parallelly arranged rods 65 and 66 is greaterthan the -thickness of the clamping member 46 at this point, being equalto the depth of the cutters 64, so that, as the cutter'bars 59 and 60oscillate on the studs 57 and 58 respectively, the operative cuttingedge of the cutter will be in line with the line joining the center ofthe pipe 69, being worked on, and the center of the studs 57 and 58, asclearly shown in Fig. 6. By this construction a straight parallelsidedcutter 64 may be used with the assurance that there will always beproper clearance for the cutting edge, as clearly shown in Fig. 4. Whenthe cutter requires sharpening, the top vend only of the cutter need beground.

The operation of my invention is as follows:

The feed rod 36 is rotated to lower the upper face of the cutters 64below the` V- shaped grooves 50 and 5l. The arm 2l is raised to unlockthe toggle joint, and disengage the projection 8 from the groove i3. Theclamping and bearing faces l2 are placed over the conduit or pipe to beoperated on, the projection 8 dropped into the groove 13, andthe bodymembers l0 and 23 and associated parts locked together by depressingtlie arm 2l. Handle 29 is now turned to rotate the hollow shaft 28,moving the feed rod 36 and all mechanism associated therewith upwarduntil the V-shaped grooves 50 and 5l engage with the lower portion ofthe pipe 69. l assume that the cutting apparatus of the presentinvention is to be used after the longitudinal grooves or slots havebeen cut in the conduit or pipe by the `cutting apparatus described andclaimed in my co-pending application Serial No. 345,284, filed Dec. 16,1919. The apparatus of the present invention is therefore, moved alongthe conduit or pipe until in proper position` with relationto thelongitudinal slots referred to, when the handle is operated to turn thefeed screw 36 and i tion, and of any suitable length. As the cuttingedge becomes dulled, the cutter may be sharpened by simply grinding theend thereof, and it may be thus sharpened indefinitely until the rod istoo short to be acted on by the clamping bolts 65 and 66 and nuts 67.This type of tool and tool holder is extremely practical and economical,as it has been found that the cutter may be used until it is less thanthree quarters of an inch in len h.

'lhe drawings illustrate one embodiment of my invention, and it is to beunderstood that l may vary the size, shape, and arrangement Iof theelements shown without4 departing from the spirit of the invention.i/ilhile I have shown the apparatus embodying a plurality, i. e. a pairof cutting cutters, it will be appreciated that the invention, broadlyconsidered, may be embodied with a single cutter or with a greaterplurality of cutters than the pair herein shown. Furthermore, animportant feature of this apparatus consists in the fact that the cutteroscillates from one cutting position to the reverse during theoscillation of the entire apparatus, consequently each cutter presentstwo cutting corners or edges and these cutting edges are automaticallybrought into cutting operation through the oscillation of thecutters,-this is on the pivots 57 and 58 during the normal operation ofthe entire apparatus through the swinging to and fro of the handle 70.This feature is most iinportant, greatly increasing the life of thecutters and insuring the quick cutting action automatically digging ineach corner of the tool to increase the line of cut. A further importantfeature is the fact that the portions 52 constitute a guard or guide forthe depth of cutting action of each cutter, these portions 52 contactingwith the outer face of the pipe at different relative positionsproportionately determined by the diameters of the pipe being actedupon. I believe this action to be a distinct novelty in this art and lwish to claim the same broadly.

An additional importa-nt feature of the machine is the automaticadjustment of each After the cutter and guard for different diameters ofpipe, and with a large range-from one-half inch diameter' to an inch andal half diaineter, five sizes of pipe for which a singlev mae chine iscapable of operating upon.

Having thus described my invention, what l claim and desire to secure byLetters; Patent, is

l. A machine of the class described adapted for forming spaced cuts,having a pair of pivotally mounted cutters provided with cutting edgesat either side thereof, means /for oscillating said cutters on theirpivot points to bring said cutting edgesalternately ifi into cuttingposition, and means for moving provic ed with cutting edges at eitherside. if? thereof, means for oscillating said cutters on their pivotpoints to bring said cutting edges alternately into cutting position,means to move said cutters into and out of engagement with the work,simultaneously,

30 andy means for yieldingly holding said cutters against the work.

3. A machine of the class described, comprisinga body having hingedmembers, means for locking the hinged members together to suspend thebody on the conduit or pipe, a hollow shaft, movable longitudinally ofthe body, a feed screw mounted for rotation and longitudinal movement insaid hollow shaft, a plurality of cutters mounted on said feed screw,auxiliary clamping or positioning means also mounted on said feed screw,and means for moving said hollow shaft longitudinally of the body toposition the auxiliary clamping or positioning means and said cutters onthe conduit or pipe. Y

4. A machine of the class described, inw cluding a body member and meansassociated therewith for positioning the machine on the work, a crossbarlocatedsbelow and parallel to said associated means, oscillatory cutterholders pivotally mounted at their lower ends on either side of saidcross-bar, and means near the upper end of the cutter holders forconnecting the saine and limiting the oscillatory movement thereof.

5. A machine of the class described, including a body member and meansassociatedltherewith for positioning the machine on the work, across-bar located below and parallel to said `associated means,oscillatory cutter holders pivotally mounted at their lower ends oneither side of said cross-bar, means near the upper end of the cutter'hold- 66 ers for connecting the same and limiting the faence,

oscillatory movement thereof, and perforations in said asseciatedn'ieansthrough therewith for positioning the machine onthel work, a cross-barlocatedi below an'diparallel t0 said associated means, oscillatorycutter holders pivotally mounted at their lower ends on either side ofsaid crossfbar, means near the upper end of the cutter holders forconnecting the same and limiting the oscillatory movement thereof, aplurality' of parallel threaded shafts rotatably mounted inV saidcross-bar and engaging in threaded holes, in the said associated means,gears mounted on said threaded shafts and engaging with each other sothat the shafts rotate at the same speed and simultaneously, and Ymeansfor rotating one of said shafts.

7. A machine of the class described adapted for forming cutssimultaneously transversely of a cylindrical rod or pipe, including across-bar, a pair of cutters pivotally mounted, means foroscillatingsaid'cutters on their pivot. points, a threaded feedrod, agear thereon, aA rotatable threaded rod parallel to and on either sideof said feed; rod, gears on said parallelrods equal in diameter andpitch to the gear on the feed rod, where- ,Y0 Y ing a body member vand,means associated Y by the parallel rods are rotated at the same speed asthe feed rod, a positioningbar into which said parallel rods and feedrod are threaded, and means for rotating'said feed rod whereby thecross-bar is moved parallel to and towards and away from the positioningbar.

8. A machine of the vclassfdescribed adapted for forming parallel cutssimultaneously transversely of a cylindrical rod or pipe, in,- cluding across-bar, a. pair of cutters pivot-- ally mounted, means foroscillating said cutters on their pivot points, a threaded feedy rod, agear thereon, a rotatable Vrod parallel to and on either side of saidfeed rod, the threads lon said parallel rods being of the same pitch butof opposite direction to the thread on said feed rod, gears on .saidparallel rods equal in diameter and pitch to the gear on the feed rod,whereby the parallel rods are rotated at the same speed as the feed rod,a positioning bar into which said parallel rods and feed rod arethreaded, and means for rotating said. feed rod, whereby the cross-baris moved parallel to and towardsV and away from the positioning bai. Y'

9. A machine of the class describedV for forming parallel cutssimultaneously transverselyk of a cylindrical rod 0r pipe, including afeed rod, a cross-bar thereon, cutters carried by said cross-bar,adjustable means on said feed rod, a spring on said feed rod belowthecross-bar, and means on said Afeed rod for adjusting the tension ofsaid spring. 10. il machine of the class described for forming parallelcuts simultaneously transversely of a cylindrical rod or pipe,comprising means for suspending the machine from the rod or pipe ico-acting therewith to hold the machine in Vposition on the rod or pipe,a plurality of y ter on the rod or pipe, and means for oscillating saidcutter on its pivot to bring the cutting edges alternately into cuttingposition.

12. A machine of the class described, adapted for cutting a slot in arod or pipe transversely of the length thereof, including a support, atwo-edged cutter pivotally mounted thereon, means on the support forattaching the machine to the rod or pipe, and means for oscillating saidcutter on its pivot to bring the cutting edges alternately into cuttingposition.

13.` A machine of the class described having a cutting member, clampingmeans t0 hold said member into cutting engagement with the workingmeans, said clamping means cooperating with the cut-ting member toautomatically cause alternate cutting portions of the cutting member tobe presented to the work during the oscillation of the ap varatus.

14. machine of the class described, having a pivoted cutting member,clamping means to hold Said member into cutting engagement with thework, means providing for the oscillation of the cutting member andcooperating with a to and fro swinging movement of the machine wherebyopposite cutting corners in said member are automatically brought intosuccessive work cutting engagement during the oscillation of theapparatus.

15. In a machine of the class described,

cutting tool adapted to cut a groove in work during the oscillatingmovement. of the apparatus comprising a pivotal mounting for saidcutting tool, means permitting predetermined independent oscillation ofthe cutting ,tool during oscillation of the apparatus and means toincrease the depth of cut at will.

16. Pipe cutting apparatus of the kind position, means for describedhaving a pivotally mounted cutter, i plurality of cutting edges on saidcutter, and means to successively bring different cutting edges intowork engaging position through oscillation of the apparatus, incombination with means to hold the aoparatus in worlr engaging positionon the pipe.

17. Pipe cutting apparatus comprising a pivotally mounted cutting tool,and pipe engaging means to hold the apparatus into .vorlr engagingpositionwith the pipe, including clamping devices to cooperate with thecutting tool and limit the depth of cut, in combination with adjustablecutter feeding means to increase the depth of cut of the cutterindependently of the clamping members.

18. Pipe cutting apparatus having pipe engaging members, a cutting tooladapted to oscillate between said pipe engaging members and means toautomatically bring successive edges into cutting position by theoscillation of the pipe cutting tool relatively with the Yengagingmembers during the operation of the apparatus.

19. Pipe cutting apparatus having pipe engaging members, a cutting tooladapted to oscillate between said pipe engaging members and means toautomatically bring successive edges into cutting position by theoscillation of the pipe cutting tool relatively with the engagingmembers during the operation of the apparatus, in combination with meansto `predetermine the extent of oscillation of said cutting toolrelatively with the pipe engaging members.

20. A machine of the class described, adapted for completing the cuttingof a slot in a cylindrical rod or pipe, including a plurality ofpivotally mounted two-edged cutters, spaced apart for completing theslot .cutting action transversely of the length of the pipe, means foroscillating said apparatus relatively with the pipe to bring the cuttersinto action and means for simultaneously feeding forwardl7 the saidplurality of cutters to increase the depth of out.

21. A. machine of the class described, adapted for cutting a. slot in acylindrical rod or pipe, transversely of the lengt-h thereof, includingcutting means adapted for eiiecting a cutting action in alternatedirections during relative movement of said cutting means and the pipe.

22. A machineV of the class described, adapted for cutting a slot in acylindrical rod or pipe, transversely of the length thereof, including aplurality of oscillating cutters adapted for effecting a cutting actionin alternate directions during relative movement of said plurality ofoscillating cutters and the pipe.

23. Pipe cutting apparatus having pipe engaging clamping members, aplurality of pivotally mounted cutting tools mounted lili foroscillation independentl of any movement imparted to the clampingmembers` and means automatically determined by the diameter of the pipeand by the action of the clamping members to position che plurality ofcutting tools in operative anemem-l and engagement with the pipe.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, inthe presence of mvo subscribing Witnesses.

ARCHIBALD T. SAMPS-ON. VVtnesSes: n

JAMES R. HOUDER, RAOHAEL L; CLARK.

